lxforever

Lexi: “I thought if I wore silver and black my mood would improve.” Alyssa: “Good idea. I thought if I wore a big bloody splotch over my heart my mood would improve.”

—Lexi and Alyssa, 11/13/03

“If you feel it / let it happen / keep on dancin’ til the world ends”

—Ms. Spears

“Don’t go out in the rain! / If you’re made of sugar! / Or if you’re a witch / Because / If you do! / You will melt and die”

—Katy and me, 1999, SSMSCFA

time 11:51 am feeling chilly and sick but good wearing blue sweatshirt, red tank top, green crops ready for hanging out with Katy! next lunch?

So I am working from Madison, staying at good ol’ 6733 by Middleton, waiting to hang out with Katy tonight, who is staying on good ol’ Jacobs Way by Elver. Last night as I called my friends husband on the giant-but-was-once-so-cool cordless phone that I spent much of HS chattering away on (pre-AIM/ICQ of 12th grade), I very much felt blast-from-the-past-ish.

It helps little that I also spent some time last night going through a bunch of old papers and junk from middle school/high school (mostly Spanish, side note, damn I was good at Spanish!) at my parents’ request, as they are cleaning out our bedrooms/making them more guest-room-ish. Ahahahahaha. In this pile I found many amazing things, including several interesting drawings/story ideas, but two such things stood out:

(1) the start of LISTS! This must have been pre-assignment-notebook-era. I kept at least a daily list on my L-shaped notepad. It is JUST like what I did on index cards pre-iPod Touch and it is INSANE. If ever there was doubt that I was OCD…let it be no more! I am, and have been for almost the entirety of my life. Dang.

(2) I also came across a 10-reasons-we-think-Lexi-is-great list from two of my BFFs from my 18th birthday. It was a pleasant surprise and it was even more of a pleasant surprise to realize that these folks were spot-on. I mean, for all the crap I give myself, I’m a decent person. The intro to the list suggested I keep that list with my at all times, and though it is now almost 12(!) years old, I think I shall. Very uplifting indeed.

So, that is that. It is quite odd to be in Madison on a weekday/night but quite nice as well. Last night we had a fancy feast at 6733 which included grilled steak, twice-baked potatoes (my mom is the queen of these FYI), a lovely green salad, watermelon, and strawberry shortcake for dessert. Heaven! The storm threatened but did not make its way to us. I did manage to drive through WI and avoid every.single.stormcell, though. (Again, if there ever was doubt that I lead a charmed life…let it be no more!)

My parents spent awhile showing me their different bird situations (wren house, chickadee house, and now apparently an owl’s nest). Pretty cool. Apparently that dead bird I photographed at Easter was a baby owl! (My dad looked up the shape/color of the eggshell.) Who knew?! (Besides Steve, that is.) They are way into birds which is pretty fun(ny). Time to retire methinks!

We then watched Borgias on Showtime, a show my Dad is in love with for obvious reasons: (1) it’s about Rome (2) it’s about history thus (3) it’s about HISTORIC ROME (4) it’s about the pope/Catholicism’s mysteries (5) it’s about a CRIME FAMILY. My Mom was less impressed, however. But it was pretty cool. Then my mom started an episode of Shameless (also Showtime – seriously, they have fancy cable here!) and I was totally hooked. HOOKED! I need to see that show again! So I stayed up too late and then had a HORRIBLE sleep due to my horrible ass-kicking cold. Alas.

This morning I got to do the cool spin bike at my parents’ Anytime and then set about working. Ideal conditions, open deck door by an enormous backyard, lovely. Our house in Minneapolis was unaffected by tornadoes and Jeff planted a tree AND got started on some stuff we’re doing to it. YES. I am thinking of those who were affected by the storms, though. Ouch.

Yesterday before I hit the road I swam at the U then picked up a white chocolate coldpress and a mini daybreaker sandwich. The swim combined with awesome food made me gloriously blissful. The drive then flew by listening to music and reminiscing. AND I avoided storms. Fate.

Busy times. Back to work.